Journal Pages

Date: Friday, June 20, 2008
Page: 90
Quote: "Uzowulu's body, I salute you," he said. Spirits always addressed humans as "bodies."

This quote intrigued me. In the clan held their meetings with ancestors and spirits judging the fates of the clansmen. They spoke to the people in a strange way, as was their custom. They didn't have judges, but the spirits always chose the best resolution to the people's problems. They always addressed humans as "bodies," and they "saluted" them. It is a court where there are witnesses, testimonies, and judge-like figures. Any man with problems that may be resolved in some way or another presents himself before these spirits for guidance. Their resolutions were followed out to precise actions. If they were not followed, consequences would be conducted in some manner. This peaceful tradition should be carried out by many.



Date: Friday, June 20, 2008
Page: 98
Quote: "Tortoise turned to the birds and said: 'You remember that my name is All of you. The custom is to serve the spokesman first and the others later. They will serve you when I have eaten.'

This story captured my attention. It reminded me of the wits of Odysseus. Odysseus told the cyclops that his name was "no one," in order to get what he wanted. The tortoise in this story said that for this custom you must change your name, and he changed his to All of you. He got what he wanted even though he was hated for it later. He said that the custom for the banquet was to serve the spokesman first and the others later, and then they would serve the others when the spokesman has eaten. The Tortoise was starving and asked the birds if he could attend the banquet with them. They agreed once he started complimenting them, and became their comrade. He told them false information to better himself, and it ended with him falling onto sharp objects from the sky. The cleverness of the Tortoise became a legend passed down from generation to generation.